Ebola cases in DR Congo rise to 9,144 with 4,410 deaths

The first clinical trial of an Ebola vaccine is set to commence in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the end of October, according to World Health Organization (WHO) experts. This comes amidst the country's worst-ever Ebola outbreak, which has surpassed 9,000 cases with over 4,000 fatalities. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments.

The Ervebo vaccine, initially approved for the more prevalent Zaire strain of Ebola, will undergo a comprehensive human trial in the DRC to determine if it offers any protective cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain. Anthony Scott, chair of the WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE), reported that there are strong indications that Ervebo may provide this cross-protection, although this evidence does not supersede that from standardized vaccine trials.

The trial, known as the Tumaini trial, will serve as a single framework to assess the efficacy of multiple vaccines. It will potentially incorporate two Bundibugyo-specific candidate vaccines currently undergoing earlier-stage clinical trials: one developed by the University of Oxford using an adenoviral vector and the other by the U.S.-based Moderna group utilizing mRNA technology.

According to Scott, the trial will provide crucial data on the effectiveness of Ervebo against the Bundibugyo virus, aiding in the formulation of policy decisions. Meanwhile, the WHO is deeply concerned about the ongoing challenges in controlling the Ebola outbreak, exacerbated by insecurity and population displacement. These factors hinder access to care, disrupt surveillance, and delay critical research, including vaccine trials.

Kate O'Brien, director of the WHO's immunization department, mentioned that a WHO technical advisory group would review evidence from the small-scale trials of the Oxford and Moderna candidate vaccines. Should the safety and immunogenicity data from the Oxford shot prove reassuring, it could be integrated into the broader Tumaini trial swiftly, once doses become available. O'Brien suggested that rapid incorporation of at least two products into the trial is at hand.